Carson receiver Dijon Battle makes a catch against Roosevelt. The game was a battle that Carson came out on top, 15-7. Photo by Ken Brooks

Usually there are not very many surprises in the first round of the high school football playoffs, but there was one shocker. In the Southern Section’s Northern Division (X) bracket, 10-0 La Salle must have thought that they were going to walk all over Compton Centennial, who entered the game with a 3-7 record.

Centennial needed only one good quarter of offense. In the second quarter, trailing 7-0, Deobeye Lee scored on an 8-yard touchdown run, and just before halftime quarterback Jeremy Gaskin connected with receiver Shiquan Jackson for an 8-yard touchdown. For the rest of the game, it was just good defense, as Centennial won 12-10.

Centennial held La Salle scoreless in the second half, and the upset victory sends them into the second round, where they will face El Segundo.

Centennial head coach Russell Shaw coached at West Adams last year, but he was not retained after he took them to the City Section playoffs, and knocked off Crenshaw. West Adams’ loss being Centennial’s gain is certainly an understatement.

Also in the Southern Section, Cathedral wide receiver Da’Mari Scott continues to light it up, as he caught two touchdown passes to help Cathedral knock off Santa Barbara 28-23. Cathedral will host Camarillo in the second round.

The mega match up of this coming Friday night will be Long Beach Poly at undefeated Mission Viejo.

In the City Section, Crenshaw and Dorsey will have a rematch. In the first meeting the game was competitive at times, but Crenshaw controlled the game for the most part in their 34-14 victory. Dorsey had their moments, but Crenshaw was clearly the better team.

Crenshaw is on a collision course with Narbonne for the City championship, but the games must be played, and Dorsey’s pride will make this game a battle.